On a seemingly regular afternoon, a man exploits a hapless chaat-seller along a roadside, as two school-girls discuss a recent accident that had taken place near-by. While the former exchange can still fall within the boundaries of a mundane encounter, defined by stinginess and helplessness, the mention of the accident hints at something darker unfolding simultaneously. 

The film’s world-building thereafter remains gradual, marked by an eeriness that is aided greatly by a careful choice of the background score, as well as a crucial, strong performance by Akhilendra Mishra. 

With the progression of the story, the protagonist continues to stumble across crisp notes of twenty rupees as he continues on his path. Unable to look away, he finds them in a murky pool of water or in obscure spots high up in the air. Despite frantic calls from his impatient daughter, he still refuses to focus on the path, until he reaches a point from where there is no turning back. The journey thus mapped out by the narrative is engaging, involving, and at last, deeply shocking.

Bārāt | Short Film of the Month

The world of ‘Incognito’ is squalid and defined by seedy endeavors involving non-consensual porn and trafficking. A receptionist at a hotel has installed secret cameras in a room and the adjoining bathroom to capture intimate acts of couples. These videos are then uploaded on porn sites by him. However, this secret trade one day leads him to the unearthing of deeply troubling truths from which there is no looking away. As he gets involved deeper and deeper into the schemes of a pimp and his exploits pertaining to a woman, a far terrible reality awaits him. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/r9vFSHVl.png"/> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/E7grvxkl.png"/> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/jRbk3FMl.png"/> <img src="https://i.imgur.com/mGyBXAfl.png"/> The film employs economy of dialogue, allowing much of the drama to unfold simply by way of visuals. There is further efficient use of the same physical space to achieve it all. At the film's conclusion rests a swift unraveling of events, and deliberate arbitrariness in the manner in which the subsequent pieces fall. What it would mean for the fate of the characters thus becomes an interesting question that the narrative attempts to answer at the end of it all.

Incognito  | Short Film of the Month

The narrative does a notable job of invoking several elements and thematic concerns - childhood trauma, mental illness, battles with medication, sexual exploitation - and engages with each of them adequately. The story is of Titir, Mithi and Tirtha, childhood friends who were separated from each other by a terribly tragic event. Even though their paths may have crossed again in adulthood, their equation is far from what it used to be. 

Plagued by the many travails of time, both Mithi and Tirtha battle their own personal demons as well. The portrayal of this friendship becomes the preoccupation of the film. The film further utilizes poetry and symbolism to enhance itself, eventually leaving the viewer with a meaningful story of malice, loss, but also friendship, and loyalty.

Sleeping Pills | Short Film Nominee

The film opens in the courtyard of a traditional house set in rural India with a netted khatiya and a makeshift washroom. The protagonist, a sweet girl with plaited hair and a beautifully embroidered long skirt and blouse, gets up and prepares for a new day. However, she first needs to bid goodbye to an unwanted and unwelcome guest. 
Choice, is a short film on the many struggles of a young girl as she tries to live independently and earn enough to pay for her school tuition. The road for liberation is often paved with unbearable hardships and discrimination. Living in an orthodox and cruel world, does the protagonist have a say or choice in what her future holds?

Choice | Short Film Nominee

The film shares a pertinent comment about class and the many ways class-based exploitation disenfranchises people of the most basic rights. When two cops find a man passed out at a construction site, they immediately nab him under suspicion of theft. Despite all his pleas and attempts to provide a clean track record, no one offers him any respite or benefit of the doubt. 

His employers, corrupt builders themselves who flout laws, or are simply unwilling to engage with the cops, wash their hands off him, leaving the unfortunate man at the mercy of the officers. When they refuse to believe in his innocence, despite all his pleading, there is only one way left for him to turn. By presenting the desperate protagonist and all his futile attempts, thus, along with notable performances, the narrative offers insight into society's power structures and corruption.

Lost in Labour | Short Film Nominee

The short film opens on a note where a man is precariously balancing himself on the railing of a terrace, saying his apologies to the world, clearly about to jump. Now, owing to the title of the film, the viewer can perhaps assume at first glance that this is probably a set-up for a shoot, and that the character is not truly about to take his life. However, this misconception is soon dispelled by the narrative, and a far darker reality is revealed. 

By invoking the story of a man on the brink of suicide and who has called his friend over to record his final goodbyes on camera, the film brings to attention the dark underbelly of the world of fashion, cinema and entertainment. These realms are marked by their exploitation and abuse, both sexual and mental, of desperate young professionals. It is interesting that the film chooses a male protagonist to share his story, reminding the viewer that this form of oppression is not limited to a particular gender. 

The film simply wants to offer a comment on the extent of damage they can have on a person's psyche, while also roping in a reminder for the audience about the importance of mental health and why encouraging conversation on the topic is of utmost importance.

Debut | Short Film Nominee

Drawing the viewer's attention to the murkier realities of society, the short film engages with the gross misuse of law and power by the very custodians of it. It opens on a fairly harmless note of a child sitting by himself eating a packet of chips. However, the sense of foreboding is put into place within the first few seconds. As the audience awaits for things to take a dark turn, the story is revealed to be one of violence, corruption, cruelty and police apathy. This is juxtaposed against the plight of the less fortunate who find themselves bearing the brunt of it all in the worst ways possible.

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